Avery Nonbinary Doll

Avery is an 18-inch doll concept designed to fill a clear gap in both the toy industry and media: the lack of nonbinary representation. Right now, there are very few, if any, dolls explicitly branded as nonbinary, making Avery a timely and relevant addition to the market.

The doll features movable soft plastic limbs, a stuffed fabric body, and eyes that open and close when laid down. In lieu of a physical prototype, I illustrated Avery in a semi-realistic style using Procreate, which appears on the front of the packaging. On the back, a cartoon version of Avery introduces themself, helping establish a friendly, approachable character identity.

The packaging design, created in Adobe Illustrator, is clean and intentionally understated. I selected green as the primary color due to its lack of gender associations, and used stars as accent graphics for the same reason. While the structural style of the box aligns with others on the market, the design emphasizes clarity and approachability, highlighting key features without overwhelming the viewer.

In researching comparable products, I examined Mattel’s 2019 Creatable World line—a well-intentioned series of “gender-neutral” dolls with androgynous features and customizable wigs. While the idea was promising, the dolls were only available online and were quietly discontinued not long after. One notable critique of the line was that calling the dolls “gender-neutral,” instead of using terms like nonbinary, gender fluid, or gender non-conforming made them feel disconnected from real identities. With Avery, I wanted to create a character that feels specific and relatable.

In addition to physical design, I also thought about the role storytelling plays in how kids engage with toys. Unlike blank-slate characters, Avery comes with a simple backstory, which is enough to spark a child’s imagination while leaving plenty of room to build their own stories. This approach is inspired by similar frameworks used in brands like American Girl, and opens up the possibility for future expansion into books, shows, or other characters.

Avery represents a step toward broader, more authentic representation in children’s toys and media. For nonbinary kids, Avery offers a chance to see themselves reflected and affirmed. For everyone else, they’re an opportunity to learn about and connect with identities that may be different from their own.